Research on self-assessment and total organizational excellence is still attracting interest from many researchers. Findings from concluded research indicate that Self-assessment methods are being used by many organizations to implement total quality management or Strategic Quality management. The technique of self-assessment is believed to be useful for any organization wishing to effectively monitor and improve its performance (Oakland, 2003). Several excellence models through which self-assessment is implemented have been developed to suit specific regions
This paper analysed four excellence models that include; the Deming Prize, the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award (MBNQA), the European Foundation for Quality Management Framework (EFQM), and the South Africa Excellence Foundation (SAEF) to determine their strength and weaknesses, and their applicability. The objective was to suggest a suitable model through which the Malawi Prison Service (MPS) should implement self-assessment methodology to achieve organization excellence. All the frameworks, despite that they differ in some instances on areas of emphasis, were found to encourage continuous improvement of production and services to achieve organization excellence.
Following a critical analysis of the excellence models in chapter 2 of this paper, the SAEF model was favoured to suit the MPS because it appears to be designed to suit African organizational culture and its emphasis on customer/people satisfaction. Steps to implementing this model have been suggested in chapter 3 of this report
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
This analysis paper investigates the fundamentals of self-assessment as a tool of Total Quality Management and examines its potential for achieving excellence in the Malawi Prison Service (MPS). The objective is to provide insight on how MPS can achieve organizational excellence through a self-assessment approach in order to